COSENZA

Friday June 4th, we arrive in Cosenza--deep in the heart of Calabria. We are pretty far south now at the home of Maria Grazia, Giuseppi, & Aleks (a 'plain name,' Aleks adds). That's the place behind our beloved white van. Luigi, a friend of theirs, is throwing the first, of what he hopes to be many parties, here. WHY? because the dining-room is elevated by 2 feet & looks exactly like a stage for a rock-show. Art of Flying is thrilled to inaugurate the new club. It is 3 flights up from the street! A feat that would normally be extremely daunting for a traveling band, but, behold, the power & beauty of traveling with 8 (now 9, Tizio has met us by train from Mirandola!) people. I wait in the street by the van.The gear goes up in a flash. As Tizio returns from delivering some equipment to the apartment he exclaims: "Molto Bello!" (Very Beautiful!) "Rock & Roll!" "I hope the neighbors don't mind," someone else exclaims.

Tizio, back with us now, booking more shows, working out the tour as we go! Outside the window behind him, is the ancient city of Cosenza. This ancientness is cool to me because the people are still living in it. Dirty & ancient with tiny streets, the little Cinque-Centos (Fiat 500's) even have trouble navigating the streets. Convents & laundry hanging out of windows & old men in front of the bars, Cosenza thrives its way off the beaten path of the tourists. Sonya & I, trying not to get lost in the maze of buildings, find some Greek food & a place full of antiques from everywhere BUT Italy...not too unlike wandering into Eklektic in Taos.


Doppio--I thought it was the perfect nick-name--it means double in Italian--for D; but, if the shoe don't fit, as they say...or...rather...don't blame your shoes on the problems of your feet, as Beckett says...whatever the case--a nick-name for the lost & found. I know I have my share. Here 'D,' (Tonight, let it be DASHING, tomorrow, DANGEROUS), is tuning up for the big show. Giuseppi is setting up the speakers, dinner was, as usual, amazing, now it's our turn to sing for the supper.